Vacuum fuel-feeding device for internal-combustion engines and the like



Dec. 26, 1922. 1,439,689. 0. s. BURTON.

VACUUM FUEL FEEDING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES AND THE LIKE.

FILED MAR. 22, I922.

I33} cm; 273602 0 Patented Dec. 26,- 1922.

UNITED STATES I 1,439,689 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. BURTON, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR TO STEWART-WARNER SPEEDOMETER CORPORATION, OF.-CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

VACUUM FUEL-FEEDING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES AND THE LIKE. Application filed March-22, 1922. Serial No. 545,658.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES S. BURTON, a

citizen of the United States, residing in-Oak.

Park, in the county of Cook and the State of Illinois, have invented'certam new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Fuel-Feeding Devices for Internal-Combustion En-q gines and the like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof. j

The purpose of this invention is to' provide an improved construction in a vacuum fuel feed device for hastening the liquid delivery from the receiving to the delivery chamber, and for other purposes incident thereto. It consists in the elements and features of construction shown and described, as indicated in, the claims.

In the drawings 1 Figure l is a vertical section at the line, 1l, on Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a vertical section at the line, 22, on Figure 1. I

Figure 3 is a detail section at the line, 3-3, on Figure 1.

In the drawings there is shown a vacuum tank having a receiving chamber,- A, and a delivery chamber, B, separated by adiaphragm, a, through which the liquid fuel is delivered from the chamber, A, into chamber, B, past a. check valve, C, of familiar form and operation. The receiving chamber'is closed at the top by a cap plate, X,

in and through which the various connections of the tank for liquid supply, suction and atmosphere vent, and the like are made, as hereinafter described. The delivery chamber is finished at the bottom by an outflow fitting comprising two members, 8 and s, mounted in a closure plate, T. Said closure plate being employed for the purpose of permitting an adequately. sized opening in the bottom of the tank for convenience in making the necessary connections of the fitting, S as hereinafter particularly described, The suction connection is indicated by the fitting, H, and the suction port, h, is controlled by a valve, H operatively connected with the float, J, for seating said valve, H b the rise of the float to a, predetermine high liquid level indicated by the dotted line, j. Preferably the float has a by the fitting, 121, leading from the low source'o-f supply air or the fuel.

upon the level further falling, diminishing the submergence of the float, the effective or unbuoyed weight of the float ultimately becomes suflicient to break the suction hold upon the valve, H whereupon th float descends with the valve stem to the lowest position shown in full line in Figures 1 and 2' The liquid supply connection is indicated M, which connects the pipe,

not shown with the fuel inlet duct, -m formed in the cap plate, X. The atmosphere inlet duct is shown at at, opening into the fuel inlet duct, m, a little back of the discharge mouth of said duct into the chamber, A. The 'unction of the air inlet duct and the fuel inlet passage is lined with a fine woven wire screen or strainer thimble or sleeve, a which serves two purposes, first, to restrict the air inlet, and second, to prevent the entrance of dust either with the This woven wire screen or strainer masks the port of communication of the air inlet with the liquid fuel inlet at the aperture, n, and stands directly in the path of the in-coming liquid, so that when the inflow of liquid is occurring, the entrance of air is very largely prevented or reduced.

The suction duct, h, is T-shaped, the suction port, k at which the valve, H seats being at one end of the cross of the T. The other end of this cross passag opens into a small valve chamber, h, from which a duct, b leads down through the .cap and is connected by a tube, M, which extends through the chamber, A, and the diaphra m, a, to the lower chamber, B. A valve, Tl, similar to the valve, H and connected with the latter by a slender stem, H which extends through the cross member of the T- HEISSUED cross pussagc, and vice versa, that the unseating of the valve. ll, seats thevalve, H

The purpose and operation of the device in this respect that when the suction is cut oil from th receiving chamber. A. it is instantiv and by the same action of the valve device. shifted onto the chamber, B.- The purpose of such shifting is, that whereas the restriction of the atmosphere inlet to the chamber, A, (which may be. caused in any manner, and which is caused by the fine mesh wire screen or strainer, u at the atmosphere inlet port.) is necessary in order that the air inlet may not be so free as to defeat the operation of the suction for lifting the liquid from the lower source to the chamber, A, nevertheless such restriction tends to restrict the rate of delivery of the liquid by gravity from the chamber, A, to the chamber, B; and to overcome or offset this restriction the suction is transferred to the chamber, B, when it is cut oil from the chamber, A, so that the liquid is pulled out of the chamber, A, by the suction; and its flow, therefore, is not limited merely by the gravity action. That is to say, thesuction operating in the chamber, B, upon the shifting of the suction valves as described, ofi s the air restriction at the air inlet to v the chamber, A, for the purpose of delivery of liquid from the chamber, A, to the chamber i i, 1

By reason of. the chamber, B,

the transfer of suction to as described, for hastening the delivery of liquid from the vacuum chamber to said chamber, B, there can be no de ivery by gravity from chamber, B, during" the delivery of liquid into the chamber, B. from the vacuum chamber, vA; and the upply to the carbureter during these intervals,-while the chamber, B, is filling, is afforded by the connecting passage from the chamber, B, to the carbureter, which ini-ludes the cavity of the delivery fitting from said chamber, B, which for that purpose may be made of considerable size if so de- -ll'1kl. This delivery fitting consists of a threaded nipple. S, on the upper end of which there is screwed a cap'member, which has an interior annular recess, 8, psi one-,2, for registering with a series of radhzi (a nings. a, in the nipple, S. The cap, S has a central aperture in its head at 8, upon he under side of which there is pro vidcd E'o' seating upward thereagainst, a. check valve. r, which is in the form of a thin metal :"sk having struck and folded down from margin, lugs, a leaving marginal notches or apertures, s, for the passage of the liquid around said disk valve. The lugs, 8 constitute legs by which the valve is stopped on the upper end of the nipple, S, being guided by the projections between the marginal apertures for short upend-down movement, seating upwardly, stated, at

the margin of the aperture, 8. Intothe side of the cap, S the lower end of the tube, Q, is soldered fast, said tube being bent to terminate horizontally at its lower end for this connection. Preferably the nipple, S, is inserted through a closure plate, T, is of sufficiently greater diameter than a central aperture, 1), in the bottom of the chamber,'B, to be lapped at the margin thereof for securement thereto as shown by screws, t t suitable packing being interposed to make atight joint. The purpose of providing this aperture and closure plate is to facilitate the assembling of the fitting.

The tube, Q, is soldered or otherwise made tight and secure at its point of insertion through the diaphragm, a, phragm is introduced into the body member of the device, which is done by passing it down through the open upper end of the proper point and soldering its flange, of, to the body member which forms the walls of the chambers, A and B. When thus connected, the cap member, S carried upon the horizontally-projecting lower end of the tube, Q, is positioned substantially centrally with respect'to the aperture, 6 and the nipple, S, being screwed into the ca a suitable distance to position the valve, with respect to-its seat and the recess, S, inregistration with the aperture, S the closure plate, T, is passed over the nipple and fol lowed by a securing nut, T and said closure plate is then secured by screws, t, to the bottom of the chamber. The protruding end of the nipple, S, serves for connecting any suitable fitting for attaching a pipe, T to conduct the liquid tovthe carburetor.

The pipe, Q, is extending u through th chamber,-A, and into the cap, where it is connected, notonly for atmospheric inlet to the fitting, S, and thereby to the pipe con- ,nection with the carburetor, but also for the purpose of permitting expansion-of liquid which may occur from overheating of the device to find relief by discharge back into the chamber, A, from the chamber, 13, or from the pipe connection,including the fitting, S, of said chamber, B, with the carbureter. For these two purposes the connection of said pipe, Q, with the cap and the duct passages in the cap, X, are as follows: In the cap, X, there is formed a valve chamber which, as illustrated and in the preferred" form, has a flat seat. 932, through which there are made two ports, r and w. Into'the port, the upper end of the tube, Q, ex-

-tends and may befitted tightly, though an absolutely nonleaking fit is not necessary. The other port opens directly into the upper end of the chamber, A. In the valve chamber, X there is a thin disk valve, Y, which is dimensioned for seating over and covering both the ports, .12 and 111 The operation of this construction is that suction opwhicli before that di'all i) erating in the chamber, A. or in the chamber, B, will seat the valve, Y. over both ports,

ber to the other. Obviously the only discharge by pressure will be from the lower chamber into the upper, and in the upper chamber there will always be space which will be available to accommodate any liquid or vapor which may be forced over into the upper chamberfrom the lower, because at the high-liquid level of the upper chamber, A, it is considerably short of being filled. And in any event, the upper end of the chamber, A,'being in open communication through the pipe, 111, with the main tank which is a source of fuel supply at low level, any amount of liquid which might be forced over from 'the lower chamber, B, into the upper chamber, A, would in the last emergency be carried over into and through the pipe, m, to the main tank below. For the purpose of the atmospheric inlet through the pipe, Q, to the chamber, B, andto the delivery or discharge pipe therefrom, the cap plate, X, has an atmosphere inlet duct, .70 which opens into the ort' or duct, as, below the valve chamber, I .and this atmosphere inlet duct, 00 has a downwardly-extendin portion, in", at theupper end of which 1s a small valve chamber, w, in which there isa small ball valve, a2, seating at the upper end of said downwardly-extending portion of the duct and adapted to .open

for inlet of airbut' seating upon any pressure from within tending to discharge outwardly, so that the discharge of liquid out through this atmosphere inlet in case of ex- 'pansion of liquid in the chamber is renderedlmpossible.

:For afi'ording atmospheric inlet to the chamber, B, to permit delivery therefrom past the check valve, 8, toward the carbureter, a pipe, R, isprovided extending down through the diaphragm,.a, and up into the plate, X, where it leads into a duct, 1", whichopens laterally into a small chamber, 1'

from the Lottom of which a duct, 1' leads 'to the atmosphere. A check valve, t, seating at the upwardly open mouth of the duct, 1' opening upwardly for inflow of air, but being seated by an To prevent liquid being drawn up throughthe tube, h", which might happen after t e lower chamber, B, became full, afloat-operated valve, h is provided at the entrance' may be a small piece of cork or the-like which will float the valve to its seat before the liquid rises to the entrance of the pipe,

pressure tending to cause outflow from t echamber, B

h. -To prevent this air inlet passage from defeating the operation of the suction for supplementing the gravity action for hastening delivery of liquid from chamber, A, into chamber, B, the pipe, B, may have its mouth in the chamber. B, positioned as shown in Figure 2, o )posite the valve, Z, which is swung open y the discharge of liquid from chamber, A, and the back side of said valve may be formed as seen at Z, asa valve for closing the mouth ofpi'pe, B, when the liquid is flowing out of chamber. A. This willnot entirely prevent access of air through pipe,

R, during'suction in chamber, B, but it will so far restrict itas to leave the suction effective for the purpose of hastening the delivery of liquid from the chamber, A, into chamber, B.

the seating of said valve device from one seat to the other.

2. Theconstruction as defined in claim 1, foregoing, having the two valve seats facing toward each other and the valve device comprising two valve heads and an operating connection between 1 them extending through both seats.

3. In the construction as defined in claim 1, foregoing, the two valve seats being faced in opposite directions and the valve device being adapted to be shifted bodil from one seat to the other; the means for s ifting the valve device being a float in the receiving chamber and a stem connected with the valve device and provided with means for encounter of the float in. the rise and fall of the latter.

4. In the construction defined in claim 1,

foregoing, the delivery chamber having an 'rection for outflow of liquid; a conduit for the liquid leading from said outlet and an air vent from said conduit consisting-of a duct extending upward to a point above the high liquid level of the receiving chamber.

6. In the construction defined in claim 1,

foregoing, the delivery chamber having t to be held seatedby pressure orffiovv outpf said delivery chamber. l r

7.-' In the construction defined in claim 1,

foregoing, the delivery chamber having an atmosphere inlet duct and'a valve for 'clos- 7 ing thesame, said valve bein g'exposedto the flow of liquid delivered from'the vacuum chamberin a direction 'for being closed thereby;

atmosphere inlet passage, =aj-valve therein adapted to open forairentrance-and-to be held seated by pressure or- -flow outward from said chamber, and a second valvefor closing said passage positioned in'th deliw' ery chamber'for exposure to the flow of liquid into said chamber from} the vacuum foregoing, a valveglocated in the delivery I chamber controlling delivery "of liquid from the receiving chamber, an'atmosphere inlet chamber-ina' direction for being 'closed'by saidflow. V

9. In a vacuum fuel feeding device having a vacuum chamber, a'chamber into which the vacuum chamber delivers liquid past" a non-return valve, and a thirdflchamber. or passage into which'the second chamber delivers liquid past a second non-returnvalve in combination with said. chambers: and valves; a duct leading fromthe upper part of the third chamber back to the first Ichaniher, said duct comprising a valvez'chamber v 8. In the constructiondefined claim 1, foregoing, the delivery chamber having-an by one'an'dth same satingmovemerit; "10. the construction defined in claim 9,

A foregoing, 1 a branch fiOllT the before-mentionedduct leading ofi? therefrom between said th'ird' 'charn'be r and 's aid valve" chamber "to the atmosphere, and a check valve in'said branch duct' opening for atmosphere} iii-let adapted: to bejheld,seated by pressure IIL'III the construction defined in' claim 1, 'fio'atf operated valve for closing the mouth the delivery chamber "of the duct mentioned which connects the uppe'r part of said chamber, whereby said duct mouth is closed by the rise of' liquid in the-delivery chamber, to a predetermined height.

12; In the-constructiondefined in blaiin 1,

ductopeni'ng in the upper part of the delivery chamber a'nd means by which the opening of said valve ibv" and for outflow my hand "at Chicagb, Illinois, this 17th day 'ofMarch,'-19Q2; v

. oHanLns S BURTON. 

